The Cox Kids Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Cox Communications in San Diego.  Since 1999, the Cox Kids Foundation has raised more than $3 million to support children and families in need throughout San Diego County.  The foundation is supported financially by nearly 1,000 employees who donate a portion of their paychecks each pay period.  Cox matches the donations 100 percent.

Last year, in honor of its 10th anniversary, the Cox Kids Foundation awarded more than $770,000 to San Diego-area organizations that support health, education and social service programs, including a $100,000 surprise donation to local nonprofits.

CKF $100,000 Surprise Donation

The Cox Kids Foundation, which is a fund of the San Diego Foundation, is run by a board of nearly 40 Cox employee volunteers who determine how the funds are allocated. The programs the foundation funds include:

Innovation in Education Middle School Grants

The Cox Kids Foundation's Innovation in Education program was established in 2000 to provide grants for innovative classroom and school-wide projects to educators at middle and junior high schools that are located within the Cox San Diego service area.

Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to public and charter middle and junior high school classrooms, grades 6-8, in any subject area to create a new classroom project, build upon an existing one, purchase equipment and materials, or promote student learning and participation.

In 2009, the Cox Kids Foundation awarded more than $58,000 in Innovation in Education grants to 14 middle schools throughout San Diego County to fund innovative classroom projects including:
 
Bear Valley Middle School, Escondido, $4,534.38 -  to implement a “Literary Puppet Production” project that uses Muppet-type hand puppets and video production equipment to help middle school students connect with literature and master content standards such as plot, setting, character, dialogue and theme. 

Guajome Park Academy, Vista, $900 - for “Going Graphic at Guajome,” a project that uses graphic novels to motivate students to read.  Research shows that graphic novels and comic books engage middle school students and often serve as a gateway to more conventional novels.  The objective of this project is to stock this public charter school’s limited library with books that will inspire and stimulate struggling and reluctant readers as well as English Language learners.

River Valley Charter School, Lakeside, $4,785 - for the development of a graphic arts lab that gives students the opportunity for hands-on exploration of creative art forms.  The grant was used to purchase Adobe Creative Suites Design Premium CS4 software and digital cameras for use in Media Arts, Web Design 2-D and 3-D Animation and Graphic Arts elective classes.

Granger Junior High, National City, $5,000 - for “The Ecosystem Project” for 10 biology classes.  The grant was used to purchase 30-gallon fish tanks for each class, complete with plants, fish, snails and organisms; digital cameras; computers; a photo printer; and for field trips.

Educators at eligible schools (grades 6-8) are encouraged to submit an application for a 2010 Innovation in Education grant by Wednesday, March 31, 2010.

Cox Heroes College Scholarships

Cox rewards academic excellence and personal perseverance by granting Cox Heroes scholarships in denominations of $2,500 or $10,000 to San Diego County adults, military dependents and high school seniors who are overcoming personal challenges while pursuing educational advancement.

The 2010-2011 deadline to apply for a Cox Heroes Scholarship has ended. Applications for 2011-2012 scholarships will be available late December 2010.

Rady Children's Hospital Speech and Hearing Center

Cox Kids Foundation supports Rady Children’s Hospital Speech and Hearing Center to help treat children with hearing loss, provide grants for speech therapy and purchase hearing aids.

Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Cox Kids Foundation partners with the Make A Wish Foundation to grant special computer wishes to kids with life threatening illnesses.